Would you pay $400 for a featherweight, in good condition (so it's advertised)? The very first machine I bought was a 15 year old White, and I used it for 35 years. At the end it just wouldn't do the job - bobbin continually got messed up, had to pull the fabric through, etc. I'm a little leary of older machines. There seem to be a lot of used Kenmores. Are they worth anything?

Nope I don't see the appeal. I borrowed a friends (she collects so has several) for a few months when my "take to class machine" broke. It was nice and lightweight to tote back and forth but if I drop or slam on the brakes or etc. I'm out $300+ for a 50-60 year old machine. I think the old singers and kenmores sew just as well and I'll tote my $49 old (I'm sorry vintage) viking to classes. Little heavier but it's in a rolling bag I can live better if it breaks.

I found one the other day that is a 1954 that still looks like it did the day it came off the assembly line plus the case was immaculate and did not have an odor. So far it is missing all the attachments and the manual, but even if they were all there I would not even consider this amount. They want $525 for it. Yep, that's right! I told him his price was way too high and if he came down to $225 I would buy it.
He went into this speal about how the decals could not be duplicated or the paint job ever be as nice as the factory. We had a nice chat about repainting, decals are still available, etc. I enlightened this antique dealer aboput FW's.
Another one in town is not nearly in as good a shape and priced at $550. So, NO I would not.